Top Ten Tips for Medical School Applicants

Top Ten Tips for Medical School Applicants. Many parents and students often ask for tips to get into medical school.

Everything has changed since the doctors at the practice studied medicine, so we asked an expert – Nikita to give some advice to budding doctors. She is studying medicine at Imperial. Here are her top 10 tips.

1) Get an early start. As soon as you begin to consider a potential career in medicine, organise work experience with a GP or hospital.

2) Don’t underestimate other work experience. Med schools like to see that you’ve contributed to society in other ways so take part in volunteering activities

3) Get the grades. This is one of the most important factors which will determine your eligibility to apply for the course.

4) BMAT and UKCAT. A lot of students will have a perfect set of A levels so entrance exams provide universities with a way to pick the best students.

5) Personal statement. This is often the hardest part for students so make sure you have a few drafts, get people to read them and give you feedback.

6) Interview practise. Congratulations! Now you can really impress them so practise, practise, practise.

7) Pick the right universities. Everyone likes to look at the league tables while making a decision but remember that all medical schools provide the same quality of education; we all join the NHS after all.

8) Extra. Do a bit of extra reading (if you have time) read up on something that interests you, get involved in scientific research and start learning how to read journals.

9) Round two. If you don’t succeed the first time and you still really want to become a doctor, review your application, ask universities for feedback and try again.

10) Back up. Instead of reapplying for more than two years, pick a related BSc like biochemistry, biomedicine and apply for graduate entry medicine after you graduate.

Nikitta is happy to run a seminar for people who are interested. It will be an opportunity to get some very valuable advice and to meet others who are going through the same experience. If you are interested in asking for more info, get in touch! Good luck with your application.